Mexican Fried Ice Cream

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This easy Mexican fried ice cream recipe is creamy vanilla ice cream coated in a corn flake mixture. Top with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and maraschino cherries for an perfect summer dessert!

mexican fried ice cream on a plate topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a cherry


 

If there’s one thing I always order at my local Mexican restaurants (I mean besides a good margarita) is the fried ice cream at the end. Now I assumed this would be a ridiculously difficult dessert to recreate at home. 

Because nothing beats ice cream you can enjoy at home, am I right? And you know I love my ice cream recipes around here. Like my Cotton Candy ice cream and my mint chocolate chip ice cream!

So to enjoy this treat, I found an easy way to make fried ice cream at home without all the actual “frying”. I toast Frosted Flakes (although you can use corn flakes or another crunchy cereal) with a little butter on the stovetop and coat the frozen ice cream in the corn flake crumbs. 

You get a crunchy coating on the outside with the delicious ice cream in the middle. All you are going to need is to make sure you stocked up on all your favorite ice cream toppings. 

See Also:

mexican fried ice cream on a plate topped with whipped cream and a cherry

Why This Recipe Works

  • No Frying Needed – This “fried” ice cream gets its crunch from being rolled in a crumb mixture made on the stovetop instead of being fried in hot oil. 
  • Simple dessert made with just 4 ingredients!
  • Elegant dessert you can serve to guests!

Ingredients Needed

  • Ice Cream – You will scoop the ice cream and then freeze so it won’t melt once you roll ice cream balls in it. I used vanilla ice cream but you can your favorite flavor.
  • Butter – I used unsalted butter but salted butter will also work.
  • Frosted Flakes – Corn flakes will also work but I recommend adding a tablespoon of sugar. You could also use cinnamon toast crunch cereal.  
  • Ground Cinnamon – This adds wonderful flavor but could be omitted if you want.
  • Toppings: whipped cream, hot fudge sauce, and marsachino cherries
mexican fried ice cream ingredients

How To Make Mexican Fried Ice Cream

Scoop the ice cream into 4 large scoops and shape into a round ball. It might be easier to do this wearing plastic gloves. For easy shaping, I used a sandwich bag and placed my hand inside the bag and then shaped the ice cream but plastic wrap also works!

Place on a parchment lined baking sheet or plate and put into the freezer for at least 4 hours.

ice cream balls shaped into balls and wrapped in plastic wrap


Stir together the Frosted Flakes and cinnamon. 

frosted flakes and cinnamon in a saucepan

Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the cereal mixture to the melted butter and saute for about 3 minutes or until the frosted flakes are toasted.

toasted frosted flake butter mixture in a saucepan

Take the ice cream from the freezer, roll in the cinnamon toasted Frosted Flakes mixture. You may need to press the crumbs into the ice cream if rolling doesn’t work.

hands pressing the frosted flake mixture to the ice cream ball

Serving Suggestions

Top with your favorite toppings! I love drizzling on a little chocolate syrup or hot fudge, topping with whipped cream and a marsachino cherry.

But cool whip, caramel sauce, or whatever your heart desires works with this delicious dessert!

mexican fried ice cream serving on a plate with toppings

Recipe Tips And Variations

  • Use gloves, plastic bag or plastic wrap for shaping. This can help make the process a bit easier and less messy. 
  • Press the crumbs into the fried ice cream balls. This helps make sure the cornflake mixture adheres to the ice cream. 
  • Add coconut – You could add some shredded, toasted coconut for a little chewy texture. 
  • Use a different cereal. I used Frosted Flakes but another crunchy cereal works. Try Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Honey Grahams, or just regular Corn Flakes (add a tablespoon of sugar).

Recipe FAQs

Who invented Mexican fried ice cream?

This dessert became popular due to Chi Chi’s Mexican restaurant. The original dessert was made with tortillas. 

What is fried ice cream made of? 

The dessert is usually made by coating in egg whites and rolling in a crunchy cereal, like crushed corn flakes and then placed in a deep fryer. We are making it a bit easier by rolling in toasted cereal and butter mixture made on the stovetop.

How is fried ice cream still cold?

By refreezing the scoops of ice cream and then coating in the cereal, it protects the ice cream while being deep fried. It just needs to be enjoyed right away!

mexican fried ice cream serving on a plate with toppings

More Recipes To Serve Alongside!

If you’re serving up this dessert for a Cinco De Mayo party or a summer potluck. It’s also a great ending to a taco night! Maybe make up a batch of these baleadas from Foreign Fork and make this dessert to finish.

You might also love serving up my Key Lime bars to go with them. Or try these super fun Funnel Cake fries!

mexican fried ice cream on a plate topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and a cherry

Mexican Fried Ice Cream

This easy Mexican fried ice cream recipe is creamy vanilla ice cream coated in a corn flake mixture. Top with chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and maraschino cherries for an perfect cinco de mayo ice cream dessert!
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 3 minutes
Chilling time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 8 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 106kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 large scoops vanilla ice cream
  • 2 cups Frosted Flakes crushed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 Tablespoon (14 g) unsalted butter
  • Toppings: whipped cream chocolate sauce, marsachino cherries

Instructions

  • Scoop the ice cream into 4 large scoops and shape into a round ball. It might be easier to do this wearing plastic gloves. For easy shaping, I used a sandwich bag and placed my hand inside the bag and then shaped the ice cream. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet or plate and put into the freezer for at least 4 hours. 4 large scoops vanilla ice cream
  • Stir together the Frosted Flakes and cinnamon. 2 cups Frosted Flakes 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Heat the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the cereal mixture and saute for about 3 minutes or until the frosted flakes are toasted. 1 Tablespoon (14 g) unsalted butter
  • Take the ice cream from the freezer, roll in the cinnamon toasted Frosted Flakes mixture. You may need to press the crumbs into the ice cream.
  • Top with your favorite ice cream toppings!

Notes

  • You can also use corn flakes but you may want to add a tablespoon of sugar.
  • Nutrition facts do not include toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 106kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 100mg | Potassium: 21mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 433IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 6mg
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10 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    We just returned from Mexico and I know my kids will love this. I would never have thought to use frosted flakes! So clever! Can’t wait to try this.

  2. 5 stars
    This was so good!! Perfect for a party. My friend asked for the recipe!

    1. Great, so happy to hear that everyone enjoyed it! Thank you, Liz!

  3. 5 stars
    I always love the fried ice cream at our local tex-mex restaurant, this was so fun to make at home, and delicious too!

    1. Yay, so glad that you enjoyed it! Thank you, Paula!

  4. 5 stars
    I thought I could only get this at a restaurant. Happy to find this homemade version. Thanks!

    1. It is easy to make at home, thank you, Ann!

  5. 5 stars
    I love how easy this is! All the flavour with none of the hazards of deep frying – perfect 🙂

    1. Thank you so much, Helen!

5 from 5 votes

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